Driving from Phuket to Khao Lak

We will be arriving in Phuket on 14th December, staying for a week at the Banyan Tree and then staying at LeMeridien Khao Lak for a further week. We%26#39;ve decided to hire a car and drive to Khao Lak ourselves and would like to know - is it well sign-posted? Is it straightforward to find the hotel?

I understand it will take just over an hour to make the journey, is it a nice drive? Is there anything enroute we should look out for i.e scenery for photos etc?

Thanks for your help.

Driving from Phuket to Khao Lak

Do you intend keeping the rental with you in Khao Lak ? If not there really is not much point, better just to find a local car with driver, just as enjoyable. It%26#39;s not that exciting a drive and unless you really wanted a rental or planned on driving %26#39;from%26#39; Khao Lak not much point, the route north from Khao Lak towards ranong I do not like at all as a road.

I would just stick with a local car+driver.

Driving from Phuket to Khao Lak

Hi Monica, thanks for the reply. Yes, we do intend to keep the car whilst we%26#39;re in Khao Lak.

Drive from Phuket to Khao Lak very straightforward. It took us a good hour and a half from patong to Le Meridien last April. When leaving the isalnd keep left, head onto Highway 4 towards Ranong and this will take you straight to Khao Lak. On leaving Khao Lak Town, Le Meridien is about 20 minutes further on your left. Can%26#39;t miss it.

Bearing in mind that Le Meridien is out of town I think a hire car is more flexible, particularly if you want to dine in Khao Lak at night. The shuttle at Le Meridien would cost you 100 baht per person each way. A car+driver would cost as much if not more than a hire car. We had one for 4 days in all last April. When we return to Le Meridien next March for 3 weeks we are picking one up at the airport for the whole stay (longer term rates are more favourable)

Have a look at www.khaolaklovers.com on the Activities page for the Hot Springs Drive and the Cape Pakarang Drive for two good drives from Khao Lak.

Drive back down Highway 4 and head for phang Nga Bay (longtail boat trip recommended) - about 2 1/2 hours - Krabi an hour further on.

Go North from Le Meridien and visit Khao Sok National Park.

Enjoy!

When you rent a car on Phuket make sure that the car is insured off the island. Some companies do NOT insure their cars off the island and will specify so right in the contract. Make sure you have decent insurance - and it is probably better to purchase the extra coverage - AND have an international driver%26#39;s license.

One interesting area on the way up to Khao Lak is the Natai Beach area - now developing into five and six star resorts. Just for fun - take the turn off to Aleenta - almost exactly four kilometers after the bridge that takes you off the island. This is a part of the Hot Springs Loop - but starting from the other end - you%26#39;ll come out in Khok Kloy.

khaolaklovers.com/hot-springs-drive.htm

Also an interesting area is the Thai Muang beach - undiscovered, but will become very pricey some day. Instead of the taking the right hand turn (to Khao Lak) in Thai Muang - go straight and follow the signs to the golf course. Have lunch at the club at the golf course and gaze out on the beautiful beach - with truly NO ONE on it!

From the Banyan Tree - take the ';Trisara Loop'; instead of going all the way out to the main road. Head out of the Laguna Resorts Entrance just about 500 meters and turn left. Follow the windy road past the golf course - and out to the secondary road - turn left. Just stay on the road and you will get some beautiful back country - quite rural - and some stunning sea views just after Trisara. You will also see the development of some of the island%26#39;s most expensive real estate. This drive will take you past Layan and Naithon Beaches. You%26#39;ll pop out of the coastal road near the airport - and will need to head out to the main road from there.

A better description - and directions are here:

http://phuketdelight.com/Trisara.htm

Depending on the time of day - try Yacht Haven Marina (on the far north of the island) for a nice lunch with a good view of Phang Nga Bay. Or try it on the way back. If you want some GREAT snacks for the drive - try the Siam%26#39;s Place at the JW Marriott (far north of the island). Great sticky buns - but you%26#39;d better be there right at 10am or they sell out.

I, too, would recommend renting a car, there is a lot to see, and some things might just catch your eye that you would not pursue if you had a driver.

Once at the LeMeridien - don%26#39;t forget to explore Cape Pakarang that it sits on.

ALSO - just to the south west of LeMeridien - no more than 50 meters - and inland a bit from the beach restaurants - is a fantastic aviary. Not sure who it belongs to - I am guessing LeMeridien - but all sorts of exotic birds - and if you go at sunrise or sunset - you will hear some pretty incredible bird calls.

Thank you both so much for all the information and suggestions. I have printed this out and will take it all with me!

Both this forum and the Khao Lak forum have been so helpful and informative, I am so grateful to all the contributors on it.